Air-cooled engine



Juner 14 1927.

' E. VAN TcFF AIR COOLED ENGINE med May 1o, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 I 9 d' q '24 3 QA* E. VANv TOFF AIR COOLED ENGINE June 14, 1927. 1,632,207

Filed May lO. 1924 2 Sheets-LSheet 2 Patentes June 1'4, 1927.

\ EBNESEVAN TOFE, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Ain-coeur ENGINE.

Application led Hay 10,

This invention relates to improvements in `air-cooled internal combustion engines, in

which the cylinders are in longitudinal alinement, with the valves and valve housings mounted on their top walls, and which for cooling purposes rely upon the-,deilecton of currents of air-individual to each cylinder from a sin le column of cooling airdirected in a plane 4a ove the several cylinders and in alinement therewith. A L

Other than the tandem arrangement of the several cylinders, the structure above described is subject to a number ofobjecttions, among which may be mentioned that the temperature of the air column, in 1ts passagey from the firstto the last cylinder, is

l gradually increased and its density reduced through expansion, with the result that it is impossible to reduce any of the cylinders or to air-cool the upper and hottest portion of any two or moreof them to the same or substantially the same degree of coolness, and that the valves not infrequently becogme too overheated for the successful closing of the cylinders.

From the foregoing, it will now be ap-L parent that any means by which it is possible and practicable to uniformly air-ccnl every cylinder andat the same time mamtain the valves against -the possibility oftheir being overheated, will be a substantial and material improvement in the art of aircooledinternal combustion engines.

The prime'object of' my invention stated, is to provide av means by which the several cylinders of an air-.cooled engine may be uniformly cooled, and to a degree below that heretofore ossible.

More specifical y stated,.the obj-ect of my invention-is an air-cooled. engine in whichv cooling fair currents uniform in pressure and .quantlty are simultaneously directed to initial contact with each of its several cylinders vand valve chambers, and discharged theren from. v v

Another object of my invention Ais to have the valves for the several cylinders so located.

.that they 'may be exposed tOcurrents of air,

reducing 'f and maintaining their temperature below any degree of heat capable of in'- juring any of the valves, but not so low as to condensate the gas charge in the intake.

A further object of my. invention is. not only to have the several cylinders of. an enne air-cooled with uniformity, but to have ille valvestherefor so-located that they may broadly 1924. serial No. 712,195.

be uniformly cooled independently of the coohng air currents for any of the cylinders. More specifically stated the object -of my mvention is an air-coole internal combustion engine in'which set-in valve heads or hottest part of the -cylinders isgreater .than

that applied to the cooler parts.

W1th these ends in view, my invention finds embodiment in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts b which the said objects and certain other o jects are attained, all as hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more fully pointed out in the claims.

In said drawing,- l

Fig. 1 illustrates, partly in vertical longitudinal section, an engine and housing therefor in which my invention finds embodiment.

Fig. 2 1s a vertical cross-section partly on thellne 2 2 of Fi 1. a

v Fi 3 is aside e evation, with parts ofthe housing and hood broken away for better illustrating the invention, and y Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. l

Similar characters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawing. y

Thecylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4, in the order in which they nare usually designated, are

shownin tandemrelation, each of which cylf inders is rovided with annular ribs or flan es 5, or the purposes of increasing the su aces ex osed, to cooling air for facilitating the coo ing of the cylinders, which cylin ers are also provided on top -with radial flanges 6, directing the cooling .airto 'the side flanges, the valve ca s being also provided with radial flanges or distributing and directing air to thevalve chambers, as will,

be hereinafter more fully described. The hood 8. for covering and enclosing the Bti automobile engine is otherwise of the usual type ,for that purpose.

Centered on a crankshaft 9 is a fly-.wheel 9F, connected witha drive shaft 9*? by means of the usual spring-actuated friction clutch (not shown).

Secured to and projecting from the rim of the liy-wheel 9a is an inner ring 10? and an outer ring 10b, carrying vanes 10 for a rotary suction fan, which vanes are located between an inner ring 10a and an outer ring 10", to which the edges of the vanes are secured. The vanes l10 are also located at frequent intervals of each other and at such an angle with reference to the periphery of the rings that they operate to suck the air from the engine and discharge it through the continuous circular o ening between the rings, the outer ring o which curves 1nv wardly and the inner ring outwardly.

The Jform of the vanes, as shown in. Fig.

- 1, is approximately that of the truncated sector of a circle, but they maybe of other form wherein rectangular vanes are con# fined between fiat portions of the rings. When the front and rear ,rings extend at `an angle, the forms of the vanes will be polygonal. v

'11 is the crank-case of the engine and 12 is a frame upon which the engine is supported by means of lugs'12a (see Figs. 1 and 4).

Surrounding each cylinder is a housing l3 resting at its lower end upon a flat portion 14 of a duct 30, :fastened thereto in any suitable manner. l

On the inside of the housing 13 are annular flanges 15, which differ in width (see Figs. 1 and 2) for speeding the air as it is pulled downwardly by the fan 10; that is to say, so that the speed of air applied to the sides of the cylinder increases with the decrease of the heat of the cylinder, as itA rectly over the center of the cylinder so.'

that a certain amount of strong blast of cooling air, due to the fan 10, will be directed against 'the cylinder at this point and spread to all sides of the cylinders by the flanges 6.

Inside of this pipe 18, and Y projecting d ownwardly only far 'enough to secure`an a1r-t1ght joint-is a pipe 21, provided at its upper and outer end with a beveled flange.

22, which, together with the beveled ange 23, 'will adjust Aand determine the total amount of air necessary for cooling the dif-A 'ferent partsof each cylinder and its valve chambers tothe desired degree;-

The pipes. 21 provide a means for conductcount of ing'a single and separate column of air to direct contact with the hottest surface of each cylinder, namely, their tops, the amount of air for each cylinder being regulated and controlled by the raising and lowering of cover 24, divided by partitions 24 forming a separate air-supply chamber for each pipe 21, the amount of air supplied from the cover 24 to the pipes 21 being regulated and controlled by the raising and lowering of the cover through the medium of a lever 25, and bell-crank 26, adapted to raise and lower'the cover 24 by means of a hand-operated cable 26a, or some thermostatic regulator.

In other words, it will now be seen, by reference to Fig. 1, that my invention provides lor separately directing to contact with each cylinder, cooling air at the 'same temperature; that the amount of air is uniformly controllable for every cylinder; and that, as the air is drawndown by means of the suction fan 10, the cooling air'passes under the cover 24 up Vthrough-and between the anges 22 and 23, down through the pipes 2l, the holes 2O in cups 19, and through the openings 16 in the housing 13 todirect contact with the top of the cylinders, and

whence the air i's distributed aroundall` parts of the cylinders and thence descends through and between the battle plates 15 and i flanges 5.

From the anges 5 the air is directed from each cylinder by diering suction passages, as, for instance (see Figs. 1 and 4),the opening 27 partially surrounding cylinder 1, allows the air to pass downward into a passage 28, the opening 29 permitting the air surrounding the cylinder 2 to pass down into a suction chamber 30; the opening 31 allowing the air around the cylinder 3 to pass down into a suction passage 32, and

the opening 33'allowing the air around cylinder 4 to pass down into and out through the suction passage34, and by which -arrangement there can be regulated the amount of air pulled through the duct and around each cylinder. v Surrounding the valve chambers ofv each cylinder' (see Fig. 3) is the housing 35,

which does not extend all the way down to cover the valve stems, tappet adjustments, etc., and it projects down to the top of the upper crank case only between the valve sets, as shown at 36, and these projecting parts are open at their lower ends as'indig cated at 37.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is mounted in the upper portion of the housing unit 35, a ring 38, the inner edge of which rests u n radial flanges 39 on thevalve cap 4 0, ut .permitsthe passage of air betweenY said radial flanges, as indicated by thearrows, through the opening 41, which air, on acthe ilanges 39, is distributed in all directionsaround the valve chamber and `end old: `between the'inner and outer rings thence it is drawn down between the anges. 10 and 10", respectively,

7. and baffle plates 42, into thv suction pas- I his connection, itis now'ito be obsage 43', from which the air passes through served that each rcylinder is supplied with the air duct down through the opening 37 and into the'suction passage 45. Suction passage 4 5 i (see Figs. 1 and 3) A has an inclined bottom 45a and isy open to suction from the\fan at the end nearest l0 the fan, so lthat the amount of air, drawn through the housing unit v andlaround the 'valve chambers is controlled entirelyby .the

opening 46 in the pipe 21.

The construction of the engine shown in l5 the drawings is of what is commonly known as the L'head type, in which the cylinders are provided 48, the stems 49 of each of whichhave thereith intake and exhaust valves on tappet adjiistment nuts 50 and are actu-.

'zo ated by a ca -shaft 51.

necting rods o 52 indicates conthe crankshaft 9; 53, the.

pistons for thei` cylinders 54; and 55, screwthreads in the upper ends of the cylinders for removable plugs (not shown). if It will, however, be no departure vfrom this invention to apply the above principles* to an engine having T-head 'c linders.

In operation, the'exhaust pr duced by the fan 1() induces atmospheric air to simulta.

1* neously ascend between the pipes'l2l and rings 23 into the compartments 24b for each cylinder, whence the air simultaneously de scends through the pipes 21, the opening 20,

, in the cup 19A, between the radial flanges 6 35 to directfcontact with substantially the entire top of each cylinder, so thatthel air supplied for each cylinder has exactly the same temperature andy density, andis ooling air .at the'same pressure and there'-4 70 fore in equal amounts that such air is afterwards confined within the passages 4'surrounding the cylinders, and the comparatively small ducts leading from the cylinders to the fan, and the innerand outer" l rings, whence-it is discharged and that' by so confining the cooling, a1r for the cylin ders, the'size of the fan andthe power of Y the` engine may. be and are thereby reduced to a mlnimurn, inthe absence of any possi- '80 bility 'for any air in the whole system to lag. For the \co'oling ofthe valve structures which includes the intake and exhaust valves. and surrounding ports it is now-to be j observed that a portion of the `air descending 8;

through each pipe 21 'is diverted through the opening 46 therein into the housing unit 35 to direct contact with the valve cap 40, whence it is deflected by the radial flanges 39 to a plane below the ring 38, and, follow* 90 ing the contact of the air with the staggered flanges 7 and 42, respectively projecting from the walls of the valve chamber, also the valve seat and the valve housing, de-

scends thence through the suction passage 95 43when'ce it asses into the air duct 44, and is drawn t 'erefrom into the fan 1Q and A out between lthe rings 10? and 10b.

directed by the topA flanges 6' uniformly v'40 around the sides of each cylinder, and likewise-thence against the anges 5 projectingl from each of the cylinders, deflected,' asthe 55 portion of the cylinders is not prolonged beyonda time sufficient for reducing the temperature ofthe hottest portion ofthe cylin- .ders'beforeqthec cooler vportion ofthe cylin- '.In other words, my invention provides a'.

means by which` each of the Aseveral cylinders of an lnternal combustion engine' 1s 'exposed to the linitial contact Vo-f the cooling' air at the same atmospheric temperature, If i thecontactof which air is prolonged of the upper part on account f the restrlction that 10athe cooling effect of the descending air is decreased with the decrease in the temperaair is,y by the flanges 15 projecting inwardly ture of the cylinders exposedJ thereto, where;D

-by the surface temperature'of each cylinder is uniformly maintained, as .nearly-as may 11o .be` throughout the-process' of their cooling.

My invention furthermore provides a Y means by which the housing for each-set lof valves, comprising an intake and an exhaust valve for the several cylinders of an internal4 115 combustlon engine, and the .adjacent end of A cooling air'v contacting with the cylinders..

ders is exposed thereto, vand whereby thev .60 cylindersfare uniformly cooled throughout their length, as nearly asmay be 1 With 'the descentof the. alr to a plane yIt should, therefore, be' understood, in View. ofthe foregoing, that myinvention'is not to f be limitedto the details of construction and arrangement [of the devices shown in the 125- L v drawings, for securing' the above desired ref below the ystaggered flanges, it passes intothe'suction passage or duct 32, and (see Fig. 65 vl1) thence throu'ghibetween .the fan .vanes sults, and for" regulating. `controllingfand directing cooling air to contact with the cylinders and the valve [chambers and that my invention includes any means for simultanei '-45 r .inders, a jacket around eac if) eect, it is nevertheless capable of variations and modifications,- without departing from.

" the spiritof my invention, and IJtherefore donot lwish to' be limited to the precise dev'tails ofconstruction showw and described, 15 but desire to' avail myself of such variations/ of the appended claims.'

' Having '1 claim an- 1s.:

' 1. lIn an air cooled engine, a series ofc l .fand modiiicationsas come'within the scope described my invention, what I desire to secure by' Letters Patent inders, a 'jacket surrounding each cylin er and having -anfupwardly extending neck, an adjustable hood over said necks adapted for 2F admitting air to the jackets, an exhaust fan,

and a -separate air conduit extendingfro each cylinder to said-fan. -f

2. In an air cooled engine, a series of cylinders, ay jacket arou/nd each cylinder andl 3H having an upwardly extending neck. with a downwardly deflected lange,'a n adjustable' hood extending over said necks, said hood.

having separate-compartments, one for each neck, and a baille plate in each compartment 4'35 below said downwardlyjdeflected flange, said.

batleplate having an inlet part.' L

3. In anair cooled engine, 'aseries'of cyl-l4 inders, a jacket surrounding each cylinder, means" providing a circuitous passage :for s1- 40l multaneouslyf'and separately admitting fair, to'each jacket, an exhaust fan and se arate air conduit leading from said cylin ers to said fan. A 4. Ian air cooledA engine aseries ofcylcylinder, and having an upwardly extending. neck, a hood vhaving .aseries of compartmen, one ior receivingeach neck, and means providing an.

upwardly directed circuitous path in each 6o. compartmentl for admitting air. to each jacket. f 5. In an-air cooled englne, a series o f cylinders, a jacket surrounding each cyllnder,

' an air 'inlet compartment over each jacket and so constructed as to provide an upwardlyfdirected circuitous path 'for the ad mission of air'to the jacke 6. In' an air cooled engine, -a' series of cylinders, a jacket @surrounding each cylin'- "0 der,'means providing a separate air inlet compartment overo each jacket, each compartment providing/ an upwardly directed circuitous air passage, an exhaust fan, and

an adjustable' air' inlet lhood providingcircuitous air inlet-passages over said necks, i0 an exhaust fan and'separate air conduits extending fromsaid jackets to said'fan.

8,"In an air cooledengine, Va series of` cylinders, a jacket around each cylinder, a:

separate air inlet structure foreach jacket,-

an exhaust tfan,'and aseparate air outlet passage foreach'jacket' extending to 's'aid an. 9. In 7an air cooled engine, a plurality of cylinders, an exhaust fan, separate aircir'- 80 culating means for each cylinder, an a separate suction passage extending from each means to said fan. j

10. In an air cooled engine, a serie `mi? valve structures, an air'cooling jacket arouiud $5 f each valve structure, means providing c'r- 4\euitous passages for simultaneously a d separately admitting air to eachV jacket, a d f a "separate exhausty duct 'for each .jack t.

11. In an air cooled. engine, a series ff 90.:

valve structures, a separate .jacket surrounding'each structure, an upwardly. extending intake conduit connected to each jacket, an adjustable hoodover said conduits providing -a separate compartment for each" intake conduit, a separate exhaust duct for each jacket, said' ducts exhausting into a common passage, and a fan at the'end of said passage. 12;'In Van air coole-d engine, a series of valve structures, a jacket surrounding'each valve structure, a separate air intake conduit connected. to each jacket, a Ihood providing separate inlet compartments over said condu1ts ,and a separate exhaust conduit extending rom each jacket. 13. In anl air cooled engine, a plurality of .valve structures including adjusting 'means therefor, -a Vjacket surrounding each valve j structure, an air -inlet conduit for 'each jacket, and exhaust .conduits extending from. saidl jackets, each exhaust conduit being oset or to one side. ofthe valve adjusting means to allow access thereto. 14. Inan air cooled engine, a series of valve structures, `a separatel jacket around each valve "structure, a separate air inlet conduit for each jacket, an -adjustable hood having a separate compartmentior each conduit, and positioned .over said conduits, means between said hood. and conduits for providing a circuitous air inlet passage, and 'a separate exhaust ductv extending 'from each jacket..

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' In witness lwhereof', I\- have hereunto set my handthis 3rd day of Ma 1924.

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